Improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles



H. T. GOODALE.

Fifth Wheel; I

' Patented Mar 9, 1858.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

H. T. GOODALE, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 19,558, dated March 9, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit knownthat I, H. T. GOODALE, of Clinton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Fifth-VVheel for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, makinga part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a front'view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of same, taken in the line a: 09, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to connect by a very simple means the front axle with the front spring of the vehicle and also with the reach or perch in such a way as to allow the former to turn freely both vertically and horizontally, so that said axle may be turned or moved to conform to the inequalities of the surface of the ground without straining or at all affecting the reach orperch, and the axle also allowed to be turned freely by the team, as usual, for the perfect guidance of the vehicle.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A, Figs. 1 and 3, represents a portion of the front axle of a vehicle.

B is a metallic plate which is bolted to the upper surface of said axle at its cent-er. To the. center of this plate and to its upper surface a conical projection G is attached permanently and may be cast with the plate B, and D is a screw-boltwhich passes up through the center of the projection O, the under surface of the projection and plate being countersunk to receive the head a of said bolt. (See Fig. 3.)

E represents a conical cap or shell, which corresponds in form with the projection O and is fitted over it, the lower end of said cap or shell being provided with a flange b, which rests upon the plate B at the base of the projection C. The cap or shell E is allowed to turn freely around the projection G, and it is secured in its proper position by the screw-bolt D, the upper end of which in passing through the top of the shell fits in an internal screw-thread c. The upper end of the bolt D has a nut cl upon it, said nut securing the spring F to the top of the shell E. To the back side of the cap or shell E there is attached a horizontal projection G, of cylindrical form. This projection is hollow and receives the front end of the reach or perch H, which is secured in the projection G by means of a pin 6, which passes through the side of the projection and fits in a groove f, made circumferentially in the reach or perch, as shown in Fig. 3.

The projection C may befitted snugly within the cap or shell E, or all wear may be taken up at any time by loosening the nut d and turning the bolt D by applying a wrench to the upper end.

From the above description of parts it will be seen that the projection C is allowed to turn freely within the shell or cap E, and consequently the axle A may be turned with the usual facility by the team, so that the vehicle may be turned or guided, and it will also be seen that the axle A may turn or move vertically or out of a horizontal position without straining the reach orperch H, as the reach or perch is fitted loosely in the projection G. By having the shell or cap E fitted over the projection O a firm and steady connectionjs obtained, and the bolt D as well as the other parts of the device are protected from undue friction and unnecessary wear and may be kept in a well-lubricated state, as dust cannot readily enter between the projection O and shell E.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The arrangement of the reach H with a groove f to receive a screw 6, in combination with the conical shell orcap E and projection 0, connected by bolt D, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

H. T. GOODALE.

' WVitnesses:

WM. GOODALE, CHR. G.SrEvENs. 

